Covington County Jail Roster

Covington County jail roster records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Andalusia, Alabama. The county jail holds adults who have been charged with crimes and are awaiting trial or serving short terms. Covington County sits in south Alabama near the Florida state line. The jail can hold up to 120 people at one time. You can find out who is in jail by calling the Sheriff's Office or checking online tools. This page shows you how to search for inmates and get booking info in Covington County.

Covington County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office runs the county jail. Sheriff Blake Turman leads the team. The office is in Andalusia. The jail is close by on Hillcrest Drive. Staff at the jail can tell you if a person is in custody.

The Covington County jail is a medium-security site. It holds men and women who have been charged with crimes. Some are waiting for court dates. Others are serving time for less serious crimes. When the court sends someone to state prison, they may stay in the county jail until a bed opens. The jail works around the clock.

Note: Call the jail for the most current info on inmate status and booking times.

How to Find Inmates in Covington County

There are a few ways to look up who is in the Covington County jail. The easiest is to call. You can also check online or go to the jail in person. Each method has its pros and cons.

The Sheriff's Office does not have a full online search tool on its main site. But a mobile app called Covington County Sheriff AL can help. The app gives news and safety tips. It may also have some jail facts. Download it from Google Play or the App Store.

To search for an inmate in Covington County, you will need the following:

• Full name of the person in jail
• Date of birth if you know it
• Booking number if one was given

You can call the jail at any time. Staff can look up an inmate by name. They will tell you if the person is there and what they are charged with. They can also share bond info. Keep in mind that jail staff are busy. Be patient when you call.

If you need a written copy of jail records, you must ask in writing. Send a request to the Sheriff's Office. Include the full name, birth date, and time frame you need. There may be a small fee for copies. Alabama law allows agencies to charge for copying and staff time.

What Covington County Jail Records Show

Jail records in Covington County contain basic facts about each person booked. Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 says the sheriff must keep a public log of all jail inmates. This log must be open for people to see during work hours.

A typical Covington County jail roster entry will show the following details:

• Full name of the inmate
• Age and date of birth
• Sex and race
• Physical marks or traits
• Charges filed against the person
• Date they were brought to the jail
• Bond amount set by the court

Mugshots are public in Alabama. The booking photo shows what the person looked like when they came to the jail. These photos can be part of the public record. Some sites post them online. Others only share them if you ask.

Note: Medical facts and some personal data are kept private under federal law.

Alabama Laws on Jail Records

Alabama has clear rules about jail records. These laws say who can see them and what must be tracked. The main law is Alabama Code Section 36-22-8. It requires every sheriff to keep a jail book. This book must list each person brought to the jail.

The Open Records Act in Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 says residents can view public records. Jail logs are public records. You do not need to give a reason to see them. The sheriff cannot deny access unless a law says otherwise. Some facts, like medical info, are not public.

When someone is booked into the Covington County jail, staff must report it to the state within 24 hours. This rule comes from Alabama Administrative Code 265-X-2-.03. The data goes to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. This helps the state track crime across all 67 counties.

If charges are dropped or a person is found not guilty, they may ask to have their record sealed. Alabama Code Section 15-27 covers this process. It is called expungement. Once sealed, the record is no longer public. The jail roster will not show people whose records have been expunged.

Bond and Release in Covington County

Most people in the Covington County jail can post bond. Bond is money paid to get out while waiting for court. The amount depends on the charge. Judges set bond based on how serious the crime is and whether the person might flee.

You can pay bond at the jail. Cash and money orders are the most common forms accepted. Some people use a bail bond company. The company pays the full bond for a fee. This fee is usually 10 to 15 percent of the bond. You do not get that fee back.

After bond is posted, the jail starts the release process. This can take a few hours. Staff must check that all holds are clear. If another county or the state has a warrant, the person may not be released. Once cleared, they can leave. They must show up for all court dates or risk going back to jail.

Note: Some charges do not allow bond. These are usually very serious crimes like murder.

Visiting Inmates at Covington County Jail

The Covington County jail allows visits. Rules change from time to time. Check with the jail before you go. You must follow a set schedule. Visits are short. Staff will check your ID.

Most visits are through a video screen. This is common in many Alabama jails now. You sit on one side and talk through a monitor. The inmate sits in another room. This keeps the jail safe. It also lets more people visit each day.

To visit someone in Covington County jail, keep these points in mind:

• Bring a valid photo ID
• Arrive on time for your slot
• Wear proper clothes with no gang colors
• Do not bring bags or phones into the visit area

Kids under 18 may visit with a parent or guardian. The jail can deny visits if someone causes problems. Good behavior helps keep visit rights in place.

State Databases for Jail Searches

If you cannot find someone in the Covington County jail, they may have been moved. The Alabama Department of Corrections runs state prisons. They have an inmate search tool at doc.alabama.gov. This shows people serving longer terms.

Alabama VINE is another tool. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It lets you track an offender's status. You can sign up for alerts by phone, text, or email. Visit vinelink.com to use this free service. The toll-free number is 877-846-3425.

For court records in Covington County, use Alacourt. This is the state court system. You can search civil and criminal cases at pa.alacourt.com. There are fees for some searches. The system covers all trial courts in Alabama.

Search Covington County Records

Use the search tool below to find jail records and other public records in Covington County, Alabama.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Covington County. If you are not sure where someone was arrested, check the neighboring jails too.